Feigning injury in hurling

Gentleman Off The Pitch

In recent seasons we've unfortunately seen diving to win frees rear its ugly head in hurling. Tricks like grabbing an opponent's hurl and going down, throwing the arms up in the air and going down when surrounded by players etc. are sadly getting more common now but fortunately we didn't have the scourge of players diving and feigning injury in an deliberate attempt to get an opponent sent off, that is until last weekends game between Limerick and Clare.

Perhaps I'm mistaken but I cannot recall such a blatant example of this ever occurring in inter county championship hurling as in the incident where Tobin got the line. At the risk of being a little over dramatic, could this have been a minor watershed moment in hurling?

I don't want to make this about one team or one player since I think it was sadly inevitable with so much commitment put into teams, so much at stake, that some player from some county would eventually employ these tactics in order to gain an advantage.

One feature of hurling that I always admired was the absence of such theatrics and the reluctance of a player to show his opponent that he was hurt. These are just some of the many, many things that make the game great. As a person who used to be football (soccer) crazy but now would rarely watch a match due to rampant diving, strong athletes feigning injury and rolling around on the ground etc., I dread to think that such embarrassing sights will become commonplace in hurling.

So without making this a thread of whataboutery, is anyone else concerned about this virus slowly creeping into our game? What should be done to combat it do you think?

Stoner

It certainly happened last week. I've no idea what to do to stop it short of retrospective reviews. Goes on in football a lot too, teams in the 1990's won AIs off the back of it.

It's worse than sledging IMHO. Also this pretending sledging doesn't happen in hurling is rubbish too.

These are issues for hurling and football IMHO and a single fix for both.

nice_guy80

Capable referees is the first thing
Second is better training for linesmen and umpires and communication between them all

Stoner

TBH, this idea that of a ref deals with an issue then the review board usually leave alone needs to be stopped.

Guys would be less inclined to do this if it was reviewed properly afterwards by skilled people. This would be economical too

keeponhurling

If a player goes down injured and videos show they weren't touched, then they should be banned. e.g. Like Aidan O'Mahony that time

However, if the player does genuinely get hit and goes down, it's very difficult to really judge how hurt we think should they should be.
Such as last weekends incidents.

For example a punch or blow to the face. In some cases the recipient doesn't flinch, in other cases people have even died from a single pinch.

Especially with all the attention in concussion recently, I'd be more inclined towards having the injury properly assessed.
It's too easy for the hurler on the ditch to say that getting hit shouldn't hurt

nice_guy80

A video referee for all championship games would solve a lot of issues

zetecescort

nice_guy80 wrote: »

A video referee for all championship games would solve a lot of issues

TMO like rugby or just to review incidents after a game?

Red Kev

zetecescort wrote: »

TMO like rugby or just to review incidents after a game?

Both if possible.

Definitely after a game with a review panel. 3 match ban minimum and it would be almost totally eradicated. You see the U-12, U-14, U-16's at it all the time now. Needs to be nipped in the bud before it becomes rampant like in Soccer.

3 matches might sound draconian but if a player is essentially put out of the rest of the years Championship for feigning injury then the managers and team mates will stop it quick enough.

phkk

Do you remember Tommy Walsh in the All-Ireland vs Tipperary the way that he jumped to his feet after getting a belt from Benny Dunne? Irrespective of what Benny did, the manner and attitude shown by Tommy was incredible. It was that determination, fortitude, mental strength I suppose you'd call it that stood out. Instead of rolling around( which he was well entitled to do after a belt to the face) and looking for a man to be sent off, he kind of set the tone for the remainder of the match...."I don't care whether Dunne is left on or not, you're not getting the better of me" type attitude epitomised the spirit with which he played. I'd hate to see theatrics creep into hurling, last week was a little disappointing to see men go down a little too easily for my liking. Tobin gave no more than a good dig but did not deserve to be sent off... I'm not condoning what he did but all of us who hurled would understand that it wasn't an offence that merited a red card. A great hurler like Pat O'Connor- no need to go down like that. Even Donal O'Grady, I was a little disappointed with too.

nice_guy80

phkk wrote: »

Do you remember Tommy Walsh in the All-Ireland vs Tipperary the way that he jumped to his feet after getting a belt from Benny Dunne? Irrespective of what Benny did, the manner and attitude shown by Tommy was incredible. It was that determination, fortitude, mental strength I suppose you'd call it that stood out. Instead of rolling around( which he was well entitled to do after a belt to the face) and looking for a man to be sent off, he kind of set the tone for the remainder of the match...."I don't care whether Dunne is left on or not, you're not getting the better of me" type attitude epitomised the spirit with which he played. I'd hate to see theatrics creep into hurling, last week was a little disappointing to see men go down a little too easily for my liking. Tobin gave no more than a good dig but did not deserve to be sent off... I'm not condoning what he did but all of us who hurled would understand that it wasn't an offence that merited a red card. A great hurler like Pat O'Connor- no need to go down like that. Even Donal O'Grady, I was a little disappointed with too.

was that the same game where Tommy split open the referees face when swinging a hurley like a mad man?

phkk

nice_guy80 wrote: »

was that the same game where Tommy split open the referees face when swinging a hurley like a mad man?

Exaggerate much?

Gentleman Off The Pitch

nice_guy80 wrote: »

was that the same game where Tommy split open the referees face when swinging a hurley like a mad man?

No. Why do you mention it? Do you think Brian Gavin went down too easy or is it irrelevant to the thread?

zetecescort

Red Kev wrote: »

Both if possible.

Definitely after a game with a review panel. 3 match ban minimum and it would be almost totally eradicated. You see the U-12, U-14, U-16's at it all the time now. Needs to be nipped in the bud before it becomes rampant like in Soccer.

3 matches might sound draconian but if a player is essentially put out of the rest of the years Championship for feigning injury then the managers and team mates will stop it quick enough.

review after a game is a no brainer but will take years before it to come in like most no brainers.

lads who want to "let the game flow" will never stand for a TMO and more stoppages